Supporters of presidential candidate Donald Trump demonstrate Friday afternoon outside of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign office on Main Street in South Paris. “… Political advertising materials – including signs – are not allowed on public property within 250 feet of the town office while voting is happening,” according to Emily Cook, communications director for Maine Department of the Secretary of State. Paris’ absentee voter drop box is located 66 feet across the street. Submitted photo

PARIS — When some residents saw that the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz campaign had opened up a local office on Main Street in South Paris, the blue signage filling the storefront had them seeing red.

In response, a group led by resident Nancy Drew began protesting on the sidewalk with Donald Trump signs and air horns, encouraging passersby to also express their displeasure … or support.

As it turned out, both the Harris campaign and the pro-Trump demonstrators were violating Maine law.

The issue came to a head Thursday and by Friday afternoon the Maine Department of the Secretary of State moved to remind the town of Paris the demonstrators are not allowed to be in the area.

On Thursday, one person called the Paris Police Department to complain when Trump’s supporters stood in the street parking zone and they were unable to park their car. Chief Mike Ward confirmed that an officer had gone to the scene to ask that they not disrupt traffic. He said other than that, they had no indication of conflict and their top priority remains public safety.

Paris Town Manager Natalie Andrews said Thursday that the town’s code officer had determined the air horns of the pro-Trump demonstrators did not exceed decibel level.

A neighboring Main Street property owner said it seemed that the demonstrators positioned themselves close to the entryway as if to make it difficult to enter or exit the office space at 20 Main St. Harris campaign workers and volunteers declined to comment on the activities taking place on the sidewalk.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris political signs are seen outside Thursday in South Paris. “… Political advertising materials – including signs – are not allowed on public property within 250 feet of the town office while voting is happening,” according to Emily Cook, communications director for Maine Department of the Secretary of State. Paris’ absentee voter drop box is located 66 feet across the street. Submitted photo

According to Maine Title 21-A, Chapter 9, no political activities can take place and no political signs can be placed in public ways within 250 feet of a polling place or absentee voting location (town office).

The Harris campaign office is located across from Paris’ voter drop-off box at 33 Main St., as were the Trump supporters, which is a 66-foot public roadway.

Emily Cook, communications director for Maine Department of the Secretary of State, said in an email Friday, “We are notifying the (Paris) town clerk and the parties that political advertising materials – including signs – are not allowed on public property within 250 feet of the town office while voting is happening. Maine law further prohibits blocking voters from accessing absentee ballot drop boxes during the absentee voting, period.”

Town Clerk Elizabeth Knox explained that the demonstrators were allowed to be on the street as long as their Trump signs were not propped on the ground or affixed to anything. However, she said that several Harris signs leaning on the building and taped to its window exteriors violated voter protection laws and would have to be moved inside. Signs affixed to the windows inside were on private property and not in violation.

Knox responded similarly to an email from a citizen inquiring about the activities taking place across the street from Paris’ voter drop box, which is attached to the town office building.

“… As long as the Democrats do not put signs outside the store, they are ok, and as for the people on the sidewalk, well that is freedom of speech, and I do know that the police have spoken to them in regards to being out in traffic.”

By Thursday afternoon, Harris campaign office staffers moved all signage outside the building indoors.